Some of my Ideas for Single-Player Mission Ideas for War Thunder
Inspired by Battlestations Pacific, Midway, and IL-2 Sturmovik
I’ve been thinking War Thunder could really use some dynamic single-player missions that blend historical authenticity with engaging gameplay. Drawing from games like Battlestations and IL-2, here are some concepts that could add depth to solo play:
Single-Player Mission Concepts for War Thunder
Inspired by Battlestations Pacific, Midway, and IL-2 Sturmovik
Structured single-player missions could enhance War Thunder’s realism while offering rewards that encourage replayability and mastery. Below are mission concepts designed with authentic objectives, strategic depth, and detailed progression mechanics.
Operation Vengeance – Hunting Yamamoto (April 18, 1943)
Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto is flying over Bougainville, and your squadron of P-38 Lightnings has one chance to intercept him. After a long-range flight requiring careful fuel management, players must engage his escort fighters before securing the kill. Success results in a historical turning point, eliminating one of Japan’s top commanders.
Loadout: P-38 Lightnings with external fuel tanks, .50 caliber machine guns, and 20mm cannons.
Strategy: A boom-and-zoom approach is critical—enemy Zeroes have superior turn capabilities, so altitude and speed must be maintained. The mission has a narrow window for engagement before Japanese reinforcements arrive.
Planned Outcome: A direct hit on Yamamoto’s transport results in victory, though players must escape safely to complete the mission.
Rewards:
- Silver Lions Bonus for mission completion.
- Ace Pilot Medal for surviving against escort fighters.
- XP Boosters awarded based on accuracy and completion time.
- Rank Progression in air forces.
Hunt for the Bismarck – Multi-Phase Naval-Air Battle (May 26-27, 1941)
The Bismarck must be neutralized before it reaches safe harbor. Players conduct reconnaissance flights, followed by torpedo bomber strikes that cripple its maneuverability. The final phase puts them in control of British warships during the bombardment.
Loadout: Fairey Swordfish torpedo bombers equipped with Mark XII torpedoes.
Strategy: Coordinated torpedo strikes must disable steering, allowing warships to close in. Players need precise timing to ensure successful hits before enemy fire repels the attack.
Planned Outcome: A successful mission leads to Bismarck’s sinking and a major British naval victory.
Rewards:
- Naval Command Medal for dealing critical damage to Bismarck.
- Significant Silver Lions Payout for mission completion.
- Limited-Time XP Booster for succeeding in torpedo strikes.
- Rank Advancement in naval aviation.
The Defense of Wake Island – Survive at All Costs (December 8-23, 1941)
With Japanese forces launching a full-scale invasion, players must defend Wake Island. The mission begins with aerial interception, then transitions to shore defenses, followed by a desperate last stand using bombing raids.
Loadout: F4F Wildcats with machine guns and bombs, coastal artillery.
Strategy: Tactical defense is key—bombers must be intercepted, and ground forces must target landing craft. If the island falls too quickly, evacuation is impossible.
Planned Outcome: The mission ends in defeat but measures survival time, rewarding skilled defensive gameplay.
Rewards:
- Defender Medal for holding out beyond a set time.
- Silver Lions Awarded based on enemy aircraft downed.
- XP Boosters for kills on bombers and landing craft.
Convoy Interdiction – Pacific Theater Raid (Early 1942, Guadalcanal Campaign)
A Japanese convoy is supplying forces at Guadalcanal, and players fly B-25 Mitchell bombers to disrupt their logistics. Bombing accuracy and strategic strafing determine success.
Loadout: B-25 Mitchells with a full bomb payload and .50 caliber machine guns.
Strategy: A dawn approach keeps detection low. Bombers must target cargo ships while fighter escorts defend against Japanese interceptors.
Planned Outcome: Sinking critical supply ships weakens Japan’s hold on the island.
Rewards:
- Strike Commander Medal for completing bombing objectives.
- Increased Silver Lions Payout for cargo ship destruction.
- Rank Progression in Bombing Aircraft for mission success.
The Battle of Midway – Carrier Strike (June 4-6, 1942)
Players fly Dauntless dive bombers in an engagement that determines the outcome of Midway. The goal is to land precision bomb strikes on enemy flight decks while evading Zero counterattacks.
Loadout: SBD Dauntless with 1,000lb bombs.
Strategy: Timing is critical—bombs must hit the deck when enemy aircraft are being refueled for maximum destruction. The return flight is difficult, as Zeroes swarm the skies.
Planned Outcome: Damaging enemy carriers significantly impacts the battle, altering the Pacific War’s course.
Rewards:
- Carrier Destroyer Medal for successful strikes.
- Silver Lions Bounty awarded based on accuracy.
- Rank Progression in naval aviation roles.
Expanded Multi-Mission Campaigns
The Fall of France (May-June 1940)
A campaign covering the rapid German invasion and the desperate French resistance, transitioning between air superiority missions, ground attack operations, and a final escape.
Mission 1: Lightning Strikes
The Luftwaffe begins its assault on French defenses. As a German pilot in a Bf 109, players escort Ju 87 Stuka dive bombers targeting strategic locations such as bridges, artillery positions, and key airfields. Enemy fighters scramble in defense, leading to intense air-to-air combat over northern France.
Loadout: Bf 109 with MG 17 machine guns, 20mm cannons, and drop tanks for extended flight. Stuka bombers armed with 250kg bombs.
Strategy: Escort the bombers while neutralizing enemy Dewoitine D.520s attempting to intercept. A successful mission requires preserving bombers while minimizing fuel usage.
Outcome: The destruction of key French infrastructure accelerates the German advance.
Mission 2: The Last Stand
French forces attempt to hold back the advancing Wehrmacht. Players switch to the French Air Force, piloting Dewoitine D.520 fighters tasked with intercepting more Luftwaffe attacks. Large formations of He 111 bombers target retreating French divisions, and players must thin their numbers while engaging Bf 110 escorts.
Loadout: Dewoitine D.520 armed with a Hispano-Suiza 20mm cannon and 7.5mm MAC machine guns.
Strategy: Prioritizing bombers before dealing with escort fighters is critical. The objective is not to win, but to delay the invasion.
Outcome: Victory is measured by the number of bombers downed before losing the battlefield.
Mission 3: Escape to England
France has fallen, and surviving pilots must flee. The mission focuses on a dangerous evacuation flight across the English Channel, avoiding Luftwaffe patrols and anti-air fire. Co-op play allows one player to escort evacuation planes while others manage defensive engagements.
Loadout: Civilian evacuation aircraft with minimal defenses, escorted by Hurricanes with machine guns and cannons.
Strategy: Enemy fighters attempt to prevent escape, forcing players to defend vulnerable aircraft while managing fuel reserves.
Outcome: The number of surviving evacuation planes determines victory.
Campaign Rewards:
- Blitzkrieg Campaign Medal for completing all missions.
- Silver Lions payout based on damage inflicted during air combat.
- XP Boosters for escort and interception performance.
Operation Barbarossa (June-December 1941)
This campaign follows the brutal opening stages of Germany’s invasion of the Soviet Union, focusing on blitzkrieg air strikes, Soviet counterattacks, and winter operations.
Mission 1: Blitzkrieg Begins
The initial attack sees German bombers targeting Soviet airfields before resistance can fully mobilize. Players control Ju 88 bombers conducting high-altitude strikes while escort fighters engage desperate Soviet air units.
Loadout: Ju 88 bombers carrying high-explosive bombs, Bf 109 escort fighters with 20mm cannons.
Strategy: Bombing accuracy is crucial, prioritizing grounded aircraft and infrastructure. Fighter escorts must delay Soviet interceptors long enough for bombers to complete their objectives.
Outcome: The destruction of Soviet airfields cripples their response time.
Mission 2: The Soviet Response
Now piloting Soviet Yak-1 fighters, players must defend retreating Soviet forces while engaging Luftwaffe aircraft. The mission involves intercepting strafing runs and delaying the German advance.
Loadout: Yak-1 fighters equipped with a 20mm ShVAK cannon and machine guns.
Strategy: Agile maneuvering is required to counteract Germany’s superior boom-and-zoom tactics. Players must balance engagements with fuel limitations.
Outcome: Preventing high casualties within retreating Soviet columns determines mission success.
Mission 3: Winter Counteroffensive
The tide turns as the Soviet winter offensive begins. Players now pilot IL-2 Sturmoviks in ground-attack roles, supporting Russian armor advances against entrenched German positions.
Loadout: IL-2 Sturmovik with 23mm cannons, rockets, and bombs for armored engagement.
Strategy: Players must target German tanks and artillery while avoiding ground fire and air interceptors.
Outcome: A successful mission shifts control of the battlefield to Soviet forces.
Campaign Rewards:
- Eastern Front Service Medal for completing the campaign.
- Silver Lions payout for bombing accuracy and ground support effectiveness.
- XP Boosters for interception and close air support roles.
The Battle of Britain (July-October 1940)
The RAF’s desperate fight against the Luftwaffe unfolds over multiple missions, culminating in nighttime interception operations.
Mission 1: The Blitz Begins
German bombers attack key RAF radar stations and airfields. Players pilot He 111 bombers while navigating through British defenses, ensuring mission success by minimizing losses. Co-op gameplay enables players to either fly bombers or provide fighter escort.
Mission 2: Scramble the Spitfires
Switching to RAF command, players must intercept enemy formations using Spitfire fighters. Bombers are heavily protected by Bf 109 and Bf 110 escorts, forcing players into complex engagements.
Mission 3: London Burning
During nighttime bombing raids, players fly Hurricane fighters to intercept He 111s over London. Limited visibility increases difficulty, requiring effective use of radar tracking and blind firing techniques.
Campaign Rewards:
- Battle of Britain Victory Medal
- Silver Lions payout for bomber interception performance.
- XP Boosters for RAF aircraft ranks.
Co-Op Campaigns: Pacific Theater Operations
The Pacific Island-Hopping Campaign (1942-1945) offers players dynamic air-naval battles with co-op integration.
Campaign Summary
Mission 1: Guadalcanal Air War
Defend a makeshift airstrip against waves of Japanese bombers. In co-op mode, one player can operate anti-air defenses while others scramble fighters.
Mission 2: Carrier Duel
Engage in a full-scale carrier battle between U.S. and Japanese forces. One team flies torpedo bombers while the other escorts. Enemy ships maneuver defensively, forcing well-coordinated attacks.
Mission 3: Final Assault on Japan
Fly B-29 bombers in a high-risk raid deep into Japan, requiring coordinated defense and strategic bombing. Players can choose between bomber roles and fighter escort missions to ensure mission success.
Campaign Rewards:
- Pacific War Commendation Medal
- XP Bonuses for multi-role participation
- Special Silver Lions payouts for squad-based performance
